New York Times Nov 25, 08 7:41 PM CST
(Newser)
-
Atlantic Records has become the first major label to pass a high-tech milestone: More than half of its music sales are now from digital products such as iTunes downloads and ring tones for cell phones. Sales of CDs have been declining across the board in recent years, so it was just a matter of time, reports the New York Times .
More »
opinion
Portfolio Oct 20, 08 6:38 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Soon iPods will seem as outdated as Walkmans—the only question is whether iTunes goes out the door with them, Kevin Maney writes in Portfolio . Consider how old-fashioned the iPod already is: You pay for downloads, fill up a hard drive with them, and cart them around, "like keeping a cow so you can eat your favorite cheese." Now consider the alternative.
More »
Wired Oct 10, 08 2:38 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Wal-Mart has backed off plans to shut off its DRM server, at least for now, Wired reports. The retail behemoth had warned online music store customers of the upcoming shutdown, which would prevent customers from moving any files they’d already bought. Now, after public outcry, Wal-Mart is relenting—just as Yahoo and Microsoft relented when they attempted similar moves, CNET reports.
More »
PRODUCT REVIEW
Apple, Microsoft take page from Pandora's book in broadening users' horizons
Wall Street Journal Sep 17, 08 3:38 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
In test-driving new software from Apple and Microsoft designed to facilitate music discovery for users of their respective media players, Walter Mossberg gives the edge to Zune’s system over rival iTunes’ upgrades. “Though I didn't happen to have as much time to use Zune's software as I did Apple's Genius, I got more out of my Zune experience,” he writes in the Wall Street Journal .
More »
Sales expected to triple, to $4.7B, by 2012, new report says
CNET Aug 20, 08 9:39 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Ringback tones—the music callers hear while waiting for the party they’re calling to answer the phone—are sounding less like Justin Timberlake and more like a cash register to wireless providers. Sales of ringback tones should triple to $4.7 billion by 2012, CNET reports. That’s almost what mobile games bring in, making ringback tones the second-most-lucrative premium service available.
More »
Music biz turmoil as CDs plummet
Variety Jul 3, 08 6:35 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
CDs continue to go the way of the 8-track, losing further ground to digital music. Another big drop in CD sales is being driven by the closure of Virgin stores and reduced shelf space at outlets like Target. CD sales are off 16% over the last 12 months and total album sales have dropped 11%, Variety reports.
More »
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Products for converting records, tapes, photos just aren't worth it
New York Times May 29, 08 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
If you’ve been lamenting the fate of your analog media recently, wishing you could bring records, tapes, or photos into the digital world, new devices are here to help. They just don’t do a very good job of it, laments David Pogue in the New York Times , reviewing the Hammacher-Schlemmer photo converter, and vinyl and cassette-tape converters from Ion.
More »
New download service taps into unique demographic
Apple Insider Apr 15, 08 9:54 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Amazon.com’s digital music download store isn’t stealing iTunes customers—the six-month-old service is attracting a new consumer demographic, analysts say. A market research firm found that only 10 percent of Amazon MP3 customers surveyed in February previously bought iTunes music, AppleInsider reports. That’s a “healthy indication that the digital music customer pool can expand into new consumer groups,” an analyst says.
More »
Firm develops download stores for books, music and movies
New York Times Apr 7, 08 3:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Sales of downloadable digital media continue to gain ground on conventional formats—last week, Apple’s iTunes passed Wal-Mart as top US music seller. Not to be outdone, Amazon.com is rapidly expanding its venues for digital Web delivery, the New York Times reports. This year, the company debuted a music download store, its Unbox video service and the recent download-capable Kindle e-book reader.
More »
You haven't already spent that tax refund, have you?
ComputerWorld Mar 30, 08 8:33 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
This year, the government’s economic stimulus package will add $600 to the average $2,300 refund each taxpayer receives. That’s a sizable chunk of change, perfect for a little tech-toy indulgence, reports ComputerWorld. Casio Exilim Pro Ex-FI high-speed digital camera: Snag 60 frames in a single second, to score a shot in which everyone’s eyes are open.
More »
Analysis
Competitors cry monopoly, but consumers seem enthusiastic
Ars Technica Mar 24, 08 10:51 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Don’t expect a subscription music service bundled with iPods anytime soon: that’s the consensus emerging from the news flurry since last week’s report Apple was considering such a move. Still, the flurry made two things clear, declares Nate Anderson in Ars Technica: Apple would need to tread carefully to avoid antitrust complications if it did go there, and consumers finally seem ready to “rent” music.
More »
Apple may bundle unlimited music with next-gen iPhone and iPods
Financial Times (UK) Mar 19, 08 10:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Apple is considering bundling unlimited access to the iTunes library with its next generation of iPods and iPhones, reports the Financial Times. In a similar move launched in December, Nokia will pay music industry partners almost $80 per handset for “comes with music” phones. Apple has offered just $20 to labels included in its library. One insider says, “It's who blinks first, and whether or not anyone does blink."
More »
Apple's baby takes
back seat only
to Wal-Mart
Ars Technica Feb 26, 08 3:00 PM CST
(Newser)
-
iTunes is the world's No. 2 music retailer, a ranking that includes stores that sell CDs. The reason is a combination of a modest increase in digital music sales and a sharp dive in CD sales, so the news isn't much to celebrate for the music industry. And kids are leading the way in abandoning the CD format, Ars Technica reports.
More »
New site lets users
play any song they
want, for free
New York Times Jan 24, 08 12:53 PM CST
(Newser)
-
CBS’ Last.fm used to be plain old Internet radio – you picked a station, and listened to whatever it streamed. That all changed yesterday, when the company announced its plan to let users listen to any song they wanted for free, a risky but potentially